4 Ways the Vagina Changes After Childbirth

Your baby is perfect in every way. Her beautiful eyes, those tiny, perfectly sculpted hands and those oh-so-cute little toes. Then you check out your vagina. It’s not exactly what it used to be before you gave birth. Childbirth alters a woman’s vagina in many ways. Here are some of the changes you may experience post-childbirth and what you can do about it.

1.  A Lax or Loose Vagina

Women who gave birth vaginally, especially multiple births, may experience what’s referred to as a lax vagina. What exactly does that mean? Basically, the vagina was stretched out and just never snapped back after the birth. This issue can diminish sexual sensations since the vaginal muscles are no longer taut. Vaginal rejuvenation, which improves both the appearance of the vagina and tightens the vaginal walls, is a great option for moms dealing with this issue.

2. Weak Pelvic Floor

Whether a woman gave birth vaginally or via C-section, she may suffer from urinary stress incontinence, or the inability to control the bladder. This occurs because childbirth can affect the muscles and nerves that control your bladder and urethra. Women who suffer from urinary stress incontinence may deal with urine leaking when they cough, sneeze, laugh or jump. Between 25 to 45 percent of all women suffer from urinary incontinence.

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises is one of the key ways to alleviate urinary incontinence. If that doesn’t help there are a variety of noninvasive urinary incontinence treatments such as a bladder sling, or a revolutionary non-surgical treatment using a fractional CO2 laser.

3. Dry Vagina

Estrogen levels drop substantially after childbirth and will usually stay low until you stop breastfeeding. What does that mean for your vagina? Estrogen keeps your vaginal tissue moist and without the hormone it becomes dry. Although this issue will go away once you stop breastfeeding, in the meantime it can make sex less pleasurable. Bring some lube to the bedroom to see if that helps. If that doesn’t work, your doctor may prescribe estrogen to help increase your vaginal moisture.

4. Different Periods

Are you suddenly soaking through super plus tampons within an hour? Childbirth doesn’t just affect the vagina, it can also cause changes to your period. Pregnancy causes hormone fluctuations, which can make your period heavier, lighter, longer or shorter once it returns postpartum. Also, your estrogen levels may change. If your estrogen was lower than it was before you got pregnant, your uterine lining can be thinner, which may result in a lighter period – and if your estrogen is a little higher, the lining will be thicker, hence necessitating that super plus tampon.

Los Angeles Mommy Makeovers

Motherhood can change the vagina in many different ways. Thankfully, you don’t have keep suffering. Dr. Ghozland offers customizable mommy makeovers to get your body and self-confidence back. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you.